Identifying and Dealing with Rat Droppings
Discovering rat poop or excrement in your home or workplace is alarming, but knowing what to look for and how to safely handle it is key. Educating yourself on rat feces identification, health risks, and removal procedures will help you face this gross but important issue.
What Do Rat Droppings Look Like?
Fresh rat poop is soft, shiny, and black in color. As feces ages it will dry out and change to a grayish color. The size, shape and texture helps distinguish rat droppings from mice feces. Some common characteristics include:
- Around 34 inch long with blunt ends
- Spindle or capsule shape
- Hard and dry when aged
- Visible as a pile near nesting areas
- Contains visible fur, seed particles or both
Identifying Locations Rats Nest and Defecate
Determining areas where rats are nesting and going to the bathroom can help pinpoint entry points into buildings while also identifying where to clean droppings. Watch for piles near these common problem areas:
- Attics
- Basements
- Closets
- Cabinets and drawers
- Sheds and garages
- Around pipes and vents
- Near food trash receptacles
- Around stored pet food bags
- Near compost piles outside
Dangers of Rat Feces and Urine
Both rat urine and dried poop can trigger allergic reactions and even asthma symptoms when particles get stirred into household air. Far more serious issues center around diseases rats can carry and transmit through waste including:
- Salmonella - Causes serious gastrointestinal illness
- Leptospirosis - Leads to liver/kidney damage, meningitis, respiratory woes
- Rat bite fever - Transmits via bites/urine/feces and brings on fever, rash, joint pain
- Hantavirus - Can bring on deadly respiratory infections
- Plague - While rare, plague spreads from infected flea bites and causes serious illness
Safely Cleaning Rat Droppings
Proper safety precautions must be taken when cleaning rat poop due to high risks of disease transmission. Never use traditional vacuuming, sweeping or pressure washing methods. Follow specific clean-up steps instead:
Assemble Proper Protective Gear
Before beginning clean up put on:
- Disposable coveralls
- Boots, gloves and eye protection
- N95 rated face mask
Ventilate the Contaminated Area
Open windows and use fans or ventilation systems to circulate fresh air during the process. This dilutes particles containing bacteria and viruses.
Lightly Dampen Feces
Use a sterilizing spray solution to slightly dampen dried feces before removing. This keeps particles from leaking into breathing air.
Use Disinfectant and Rags For Removal
Dip disposable rags in disinfectant and use to pick up dampened droppings taking care not to stir up dust. Place rags with feces directly into tightly sealed garbage bags.
Thoroughly Disinfect the Area
After removing all visible poop use disinfectant sprays and solutions to thoroughly wash the surrounding environment. Let the area dry completely afterward.
Safely Remove and Contain Protective Wear
Carefully roll down coveralls so contaminated parts are contained inside. Place gear in sealed bags then wash hands and body thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Shower immediately if possible.
Properly Discard Contaminated Items
Seal plastic bags with rags, coveralls and other disposable items then place inside a second sealed bag with tight ties. Designate hazardous waste bags for professional disposal.
Preventing Rats From Entering Homes
Completely blocking rodent entry pathways provides the only guaranteed protection from exposure to dangerous urine and poop. Carefully inspect inside and outside the home for plumbing and electrical openings, cracks and holes where rats can get in. Use these prevention tips:
Seal Any Openings Larger Than 14 Inch
Use metal hardware cloth, caulk, concrete, wood or metal kick plates to seal even the smallest spaces rats can squeeze through.
Install Door Sweeps
Install metal sweeps or brushes on bottom of exterior doors to block rodent entry while still allowing doors to open.
Repair Damaged Vents
Inspect window and exterior HVAC vents for damage then install new mesh screens to cover openings.
Add Mesh Pipe Covers
Wrap mesh pipe insulation around water lines, gas pipes, electrical conduits and plumbing to block rats from climbing up.
Trim Landscaping
Prune back dense bushes, vines and tree limbs touching the home to eliminate rodent highways straight into your space.
When To Call A Professional
While completely eliminating rats is key to stopping feces buildup, extensive droppings often signal major underlying infestations needing professional treatment. Seek emergency assistance for:
- Droppings found in food prep or storage spots
- Signs of numerous rats like extreme fecal buildup
- Droppings present after sealing obvious holes
- Recurring droppings after trapping and removal
- Risks of structural damage from rat tunnels
Combining pest control technician home treatments with strict sanitation and exclusion tactics offers the best defense against further rat poop problems.
FAQs
How can you tell if it's rat poop or mouse poop?
Rat droppings tend to be larger, measuring around 3/4 inch long, while mice poop is usually 1/4 inch or less. Rat feces also often contain visible fur and seed particles from their diet. The ends are blunter than the more pointed mouse droppings.
What diseases can you get from rat urine or poop?
Major illnesses transmitted from rats to humans via urine and feces include salmonella food poisoning, respiratory hantavirus, rat bite fever, and bubonic plague in rare cases. Leptospirosis affecting liver and kidneys also spreads via rat waste.
How do I safely clean up rat poop?
Wear protective coveralls, gloves, booties, masks and goggles when cleaning rat droppings. Lightly spray feces to keep particles down then use disinfectant-soaked rags over a plastic lining to contain waste. Fully sterilize the area afterward and shower immediately.
What smell repels rats from pooping?
Rats dislike strong scents like eucalyptus, mint, garlic and vinegar among others. Place cotton balls soaked in concentrated versions of these liquids around potential nest sites to deter infestations and associated feces.
Will rat poop be soft or hard if infestation is current?
Finding soft, shiny black stool indicates a fresh infestation as poop dries out and fades to gray in color over time. Hard feces means rats accessed the area in the past but may or may not still be present without further evidence.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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